Apparatus for preparing soil for the placement of seed and additive

ABSTRACT

An apparatus for preparing soil for the placement therein of at least one of seed and fertilizer. A frame is provided with there being first structure on the frame for penetrating the soil to create an opening for at least one of seed and fertilizer as the frame is advanced in a travel direction. A second structure is provided on the frame at least partially downstream of the first structure for at least one of a) stripping soil clods from the first structure and b) loosening soil downstream of the first structure.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

[0001] This application is a continuation of pending U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 08/073,573 filed Jun. 8, 1993, for “Apparatus forPreparing Soil for the Placement of Seed and Additive.”

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0002] This invention relates to agricultural equipment and, moreparticularly, to an apparatus that simultaneously clears residue andloosens soil so that seed and fertilizer can be placed therein in such amanner that consistent and optimum growing conditions can be establishedfor the seed.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0003] There are many planting techniques currently practiced byfarmers. Under a conventional process, planting of a field is carriedout in steps. First, the entire field is worked to break up the soil,break loose the residue from the preceding year's crops, and break downand work the residue into the tilled soil. The planting rows in theprior year are eliminated so that the entire field has a substantiallyhomogenous soil texture.

[0004] This conventional technique has numerous drawbacks. First of all,this technique requires the performance of multiple steps to effectplanting of the field. The field is first cultivated during one or morepasses of a cultivator over the field. A separate planter attachment isthen utilized to deposit seed and spray fertilizer in an entirelyseparate operation. To carry out the different operations, the user isrequired to connect and disconnect equipment to and from towing vehicle.

[0005] A further problem with this conventional technique is that theresidue, such as corn stalks, may not be effectively pulverized, eventhough several passes are made over the field with the cultivator unit.The result is that the residue may jam up in the planter unit and/orblock the placement of the seed and spraying of fertilizer.

[0006] A further problem with this conventional technique is thatcultivation of the entire field increases soil erosion from both rainand wind. Not only is this undesirable from the standpoint of loosingfertile soil, but of late the federal government has imposedrestrictions on erosion by requiring that a certain amount of groundcover remain in place at all times in the field.

[0007] Certain of these problems led to the development of residueclearing devices which facilitate the planting of seed without priorcultivation. The John Deere Company, for one, has been active in thedevelopment of such residue clearing devices. One such structurecurrently offered by John Deere has a cooperating pair of rotary wheels.The wheels are constructed from flat steel plate material and have asolid central body with radially projecting teeth spaced equidistantlyabout the periphery of the body. A highly successful wheel design iscommercially available through the assignee herein under the trademarkTRASHWHEEL™. Each wheel pair is mounted on a planter frame so that theteeth on the wheel pair are in mesh, with the wheels toed in at theirbottoms and diverging away from each other in a trailing direction. Theangular relationship of the wheels results in their being automaticallyrotated as they engage with and are dragged through soil in operation.

[0008] The wheels are oriented so that they resituate residue in theplanting row upstream of a “V-opener”, which defines an open seed slot.The frame that carries the wheels also carries a supply of fertilizerand/or seed, with the seed being deposited in the open slot as the frameis advanced. Once the seed is placed, a downstream pair of closingwheels redeposits soil in the slot created by the V-opener.

[0009] Heretofore, the residue clearing wheels have been operated at adepth so as not to penetrate as deeply as the seed slot. Consequently,the V-opener operates on primarily unloosened soil. In moist soil, theV-openers tend to create the slot primarily by compaction of the soilagainst the walls bounding the slot. When the closing wheels replacesoil in the seed slot, much of the soil remains in a compacted state atthe walls. The result is that less loose soil than is desirable isplaced back in the slot.

[0010] As a consequence of this, the seed may not be fully covered orcovered with only a thin layer of soil. Alternatively, even if the seedis initially covered with soil by the closing wheels, the soil, upondrying out, tends to develop cracks through which the seed is directlyexposed to the elements. The seed may be destroyed by, for example,direct exposure to the sun. Alternatively, if fertilizers aresubsequently placed on the sod, the fertilizer may be applied insubstantial quantities directly upon the seed, with adverse results.

[0011] Heretofore, since there has been no practical solution to theabove problem, those in the art have merely contended with this problem.The result of this is that crop quality and quantity are oftensignificantly compromised. This is particularly a problem in today'senvironment in which it is imperative that yield be maximized forfarmland.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0012] The present invention is specifically directed to overcoming theabove-enumerated problems in a novel and simple manner.

[0013] According to the invention, an apparatus is provided forpreparing soil for the placement therein of at least one of seed andfertilizer. A frame is provided with there being first structure on theframe for penetrating the soil to create an opening for at least one ofseed and fertilizer as the frame is advanced in a travel direction. Asecond structure is provided on the frame at least partially downstreamof the first structure for at least one of a) stripping soil clods fromthe first structure and, b) loosening soil downstream of the firststructure.

[0014] With this arrangement, a loosened bed of soil, with a relativelyuniform consistency, can be defined for receipt of at least one of theseed and fertilizer.

[0015] In one form, the first structure is a coulter, which may be inthe form of a wheel. A preferred form of wheel is one of a 13-wave,8-wave and a rippled construction wheel.

[0016] Similarly, the second structure can be in the form of a wheeland, is preferably in the form of a cooperating pair of second and thirdwheels, with the first wheel rotatable about a horizontally extendingaxis and the second and third wheels rotatable about axes that aretransverse to each other and the first wheel axis.

[0017] In one form, at least one of the second and third wheels traces apath that coincides with the first wheel along the line of the traveldirection of the frame.

[0018] In one form, the frame has a main part and a subpart, with thesubpart being selectively adjustable in a vertical direction relative tothe main frame part so that the vertical position of the second andthird wheels relative to the first wheel can be changed.

[0019] Similarly, the first wheel can be mounted to the frame forvertical movement relative thereto. Consequently, the vertical positionsof the first, second and third wheels on the frame can be selected bythe user, with the second and third wheels being movable vertically inturn relative to the first wheel.

[0020] In one form, the second and third wheels are arranged so that theplanes of rotation thereof cooperatively define a “V” shape opening awayfrom the travel direction. By placing the second and third wheels instraddling relationship to the first wheel, the second and third wheelswill pick clean clods of soil that may be adhered to the first wheel andbreak up soil clods that may be thrown by the coulter wheel inoperation.

[0021] The invention further contemplates the above structure incombination with a fourth structure on the frame for continuouslydefining an open slot in soil loosened by the first and secondstructures as the frame advances in a travel direction.

[0022] In one form, the first and second structures penetrate soil to adepth approximately equal to the depth of a slot in soil defined by thefourth structure. This depth can be slightly less than, equal to, orslightly greater than the depth of the seed slot.

[0023] The invention further contemplates the combination of the abovestructure with a fifth structure on the frame for continuouslydelivering at least one of seed and fertilizer to soil and a sixthstructure for continuously replacing soil in a slot defined by the fifthstructure as the frame is advanced in a travel direction.

[0024] The invention still further contemplates an apparatus forpreparing soil for the placement therein of at least one of seed andfertilizer, which apparatus has a frame, first structure on the framefor continuously parting the soil in an intended line of introduction ofat least one of seed and fertilizer, and second structure on the framefor loosening soil adjacent to the intended line of introduction of atleast one of seed and fertilizer.

[0025] The invention further contemplates an apparatus for preparingsoil, as described above, including a frame with first and secondcooperating, toothed wheels mounted to the frame so that the first andsecond toothed wheels rotate in first and second vertically extendingplanes about first and second transverse axes to loosen soil. Structureis provided for supporting the frame at a predetermined height relativeto subjacent soil supporting the frame. Structure is additionallyprovided on the frame for continuously defining an open slot in, or inthe vicinity of, soil loosened by the first and second wheels as theframe is advanced in a travel direction. The frame supporting structuremaintains the frame at a predetermined height so that the slot definingstructure defines a slot having a first depth. At least one of the firstand second wheels penetrates soil to a depth at least equal toapproximately the first depth.

[0026] Preferably, both the first and second wheels penetrate soil to atleast the first depth.

[0027] The invention also contemplates a method of preparing soil forplacement of at least one of seed and fertilizer therein, which methodincludes the steps of: continuously cutting the soil in an intended linefor the placement of at least one of seed and fertilizer; continuouslyloosening the soil on opposite sides of the intended seed line; andcontinuously defining an open slot for the placement of at least one ofseed and fertilizer in, or in the vicinity of, the loosened soil.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0028] In the drawings:

[0029]FIG. 1 is a side elevation view of a soil treating implementincluding an apparatus for preparing soil for the placement of seed andfertilizer, according to the present invention;

[0030]FIG. 2 is an enlarged, perspective view of the inventiveapparatus;

[0031]FIG. 3 is a schematic, plan view of a towing vehicle attachedoperatively to a plurality of implements, as shown in FIG. 1;

[0032]FIG. 4 is a schematic, plan view of the implement in FIG. 1;

[0033]FIG. 5 is a schematic, side elevation view of the implement inFIG. 1;

[0034]FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of a slot formed in aconventional manner;

[0035]FIG. 7 is a view of the slot as in FIG. 6 with a seed therein andsoil replaced in the slot in conventional manner;

[0036]FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of a slot made according to thepresent invention; and

[0037]FIG. 9 is a view as in FIG. 8 with a seed in the slot and the soilreplaced according to the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE ILLUSTRATED EMBODIMENT

[0038] In FIGS. 1-5, an apparatus for preparing soil for the placementof seed and fertilizer, according to the present invention, is shown at10. The inventive apparatus 10 is part of a multi-function implement at12 which, in one pass over a field, prepares the underlying soil 14 forplanting, opens the soil 14 for placement of seed, places the seed,resituates the soil around the seed, and applies a fertilizer.

[0039] In normal operation, a plurality of the implements 12 are mountedto a towing frame at 16 that is drawn by a towing vehicle 18, which isin the form of a tractor. The implements 12 are operatively connected tothe frame 16 in side-by-side relationship and are mobilized by gaugewheels 20, which in addition to facilitating movement of the implements12 in the forward direction of travel for the towing vehicle 18, asindicated by arrow 22, maintain the frame 24 on each implement 12 at apredetermined height relative to subjacent soil 14 over which theimplements 12 are moved.

[0040] The inventive apparatus 10 consists of a first means at 26 forpenetrating/parting the soil and second means at 28, at least partiallydownstream of the first means 26, for loosening soil downstream of thefirst means 26, stripping soil clods that may accumulate on the firstmeans 26, and breaking up soil clods that may be thrown by the firstmeans 26.

[0041] While the first means 26 could take any of a number of differentforms, in one preferred form, the first means 26 is a coulter wheel 30that is mounted to a depending arm 31 on the implement frame 24 forrotation about a horizontal axis 32 that is substantially perpendicularto the direction of travel of the towing vehicle 18 and the implements12 carried thereby. The coulter wheel 30 can take a number of differentforms. For example, it could be a 13-wave, an 8-wave, or a rippleconstruction, known to those skilled in the agricultural art. This typeof wheel has a width on the order of one inch.

[0042] The second means 28 consists of second and third wheels 34, 36,which are rotatable about axes 38, 40, respectively. The wheels 34, 36each have a cylindrical body 44 from which equidistantly spaced teeth 46project in cantilever fashion. A highly preferred construction for thesewheels is embodied in a product currently being sold by the assigneeherein under the trademark TRASHWHEEL™.

[0043] A hub assembly 48 mounts each of the wheels 34, 36 to theimplement frame 24 so that the planes of rotation of the wheels 36, 38define a “V” shape within an included angle a on the order of 30-40degree. The wheels 34, 36 are toed in slightly at the bottom portionsthereof. With this arrangement, as the wheels 34, 36 are dragged throughthe soil 14, they are automatically rotated. As this rotation occurs,the wheels 34, 36 redistribute residue laterally to the sides of anintended seed line and at the same time pulverize and provide a loosenedbed of soil to the sides of the seed line 50. With the residue cleared,a uniform height path is created for the gauge wheels 20 so that theimplement frame 24 runs at a consistent height relative to theunderlying soil 14.

[0044] In addition to loosening the soil 14, the wheels 34, 36 perform acleaning function for the coulter wheels 30. To accomplish this latterfunction, the wheels 34, 36 are arranged to straddle the trailing end ofthe coulter wheel 30 so that there is overlap in the line of travel. Thecoulter wheel 30 tends to pick up soil clods and either throw them intothe implements 12 or propel them randomly within the field. With thewheels 34, 36 situated according to the present invention, the wheels34, 36 intercept any clods at the point that they normally separate fromthe coulter wheel 30 and break up the clods to cause an evendistribution thereof over the field. The wheels 34, 36 additionally tendto scrape loose any large clods that hang up on the coulter wheel 30.

[0045] Downstream of the wheels 34, 36 a V-opener is provided at 52. TheV-opener 52 consists of cooperating disks 54, 56 which are toed in attheir bottom portions and freely rotatable about transverse axes 58, 60.As the implement 12 advances, the disks 54, 56 cooperate to define aV-shaped, upwardly opening seed slot 62 in the soil 14.

[0046] Once the slot 62 is formed, seed from a supply 64 on theimplement 12 is directed by gravity into the slot 62. Thereafter, acooperating pair of closing wheels/disks 66, 68, of a conventionalconstruction, direct soil back into the slot 62 to cover the seedtherein and effect a slight compaction of the soil 14. The wheels/disks66, 68 are arranged to converge from top to bottom and are toed inslightly at the trailing ends thereof so that the wheels/disks 66, 68rotate on their own as they are advanced over the soil 14.

[0047] Fertilizer from a supply 70 can then be sprayed over the soil 14with the, seed therein to complete the operations performed by theimplement 12.

[0048] One advantage of the present invention affords over the prior artcan be seen by comparing the seed slot 62 in FIGS. 8 and 9 formedaccording to the present invention, versus the seed slot 62′ formedusing conventional techniques. With the invention, the coulter wheel 30parts the soil 14 preferably to the depth at which the individual seeds72 are to be placed. The following wheels 34, 36 break up soil anddefine a relatively large, U-shaped base of loosened soil 14 at, or inthe vicinity of, the soil parting line. Consequently, when the V-opener52 engages the loosened soil 14 or soil in the vicinity of the loosenedsoil, the soil 14 redistributes readily without significant compaction.For example, as shown in FIG. 8, the loosened soil 14 can spilllaterally outwardly and mound at the sides of the slot 62. The closingwheels 66, 68 then place the loosened soil back into the slot 62 so thatthe seed 72 is covered by a substantial depth of loosened soil.Consequently, the likelihood of exposure of the seed 72 is minimal, evenafter the loosened soil shrinks after being completely dried out.

[0049] The loosened soil 14 provides an excellent receptacle for liquidfertilizer or other treating liquid. The loosened sod is relativelyhomogeneous and effectively absorbs and retains the liquid.

[0050] On the other hand, by forcing the V-opener 52 through the soil 14before any pre-treatment, by the conventional technique, the walls 74,76 of the slot 621 are significantly compacted. At the same time, themoistened soil gets smeared on the side walls 74 9 76, so as to make arelatively hard receptacle for the incoming seed 72.

[0051] Since much of the soil 14 is compacted, when the closing wheels66, 68 encounter the soil 14, very little of the soil 14 may beavailable to be placed back into the slot 62′. That portion of the soil14 that does find its way back into the slot 62′ may include clumps 78which bridge the walls 74, 76 and may preclude complete covering of theseed 72 by soil. Still further, the small amount of soil 14 within theslot 62′, upon drying out, may develop cracks 80, whereby the seed 72 atthe bottom of the slot 62′ is fully exposed to the elements. The seed 72is thus prone to being destroyed, as by sunlight, fertilizer from thesupply 70 during the planting process, or by water which may float theseed 72 to be improperly positioned in the slot 62′ or completely out ofthe slot 62′.

[0052] The invention contemplates that the coulter wheel 30 and secondand third wheels 34, 36 be vertically repositionable. To accomplishthis, the frame 24 includes a frame subassembly 82 consisting of a mainframe part 84 and a subpart 86. The main frame part 84 has a mountingbracket 87 held removably in an operative position on the implement 12by bolts 88.

[0053] The arm 31 is integrally formed with the bracket 87 and is afixed part of the frame 24. The arm 31 has a depending length 90 towhich the coulter wheel 30 is attached by a bolt 92. The arm length 90has a plurality of vertically spaced bores 94 to accept the bolt 92 andthereby mount the coulter wheel 30 in a plurality of different positionson the frame 24. Since the position of the gauge wheels 20 relative tothe frame 24 is fixed, the depth of the coulter wheel penetration isdetermined by this adjustment. Preferably, the range of adjustment issuch that the coulter wheel 30 can be situated to make a shallow cut andalso to make a cut significantly deeper than the desired seed depth.

[0054] The frame subpart 86 connects to the bracket for controlledvertical movement relative thereto. The frame subpart 86 is in the formof a vertically extending stem 94, at the bottom of which the wheels 34,36 are mounted. A suitable connection for adjustably mounting the stem94 to the bracket 87 is described fully in my U.S. Pat. No. 5,129,282,which is incorporated herein by reference. The range of adjustment forthe wheels 34, 36 is preferably between a position wherein the wheels34, 36 skim the soil 14 to a position wherein the wheels 34, 36penetrate to a depth below the planting depth for the seed 72.

[0055] With the inventive structure, the seed 72 is consistently andsafely encapsulated in soil 14. Liquid fertilizer, or the like, can beheld captive in the loosened, homogenous soil. Consequently,predictable, optimum crop yield will result.

[0056] The foregoing disclosure of specific embodiments is intended tobe illustrative of the broad concepts comprehended by the invention.

[0057] While particular embodiments and applications of the presentinvention have been illustrated and described, it is to be understoodthat the invention is not limited to the precise construction andcompositions disclosed herein and that various modifications, changes,and variations may be apparent from the foregoing descriptions withoutdeparting from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in theappended claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. An apparatus for preparing soil for the placementtherein of at least one of seed and fertilizer, said apparatuscomprising: a frame; first means on the frame for penetrating the soilto create an opening for at least one of seed and fertilizer as theframe is advanced in a travel direction; and second means on the frame-at, least partially downstream of the first means/for at least one ofa) stripping soil clods from the first means, and b) loosening soildownstream of the first means, whereby a loosened bed of soil can bedefined for receipt of at least one of seed and fertilizer.
 2. Theapparatus for preparing soil according to claim 1 wherein the firstmeans comprises a coulter.
 3. The apparatus for preparing soil accordingto claim 2 wherein thecoulter is in the form f a wheel.
 4. The apparatusfor preparing soil according to claim 3 wherein the wheel is one of awave and a ripple construction.
 5. The apparatus for preparing soilaccording to claim 1 wherein the second means comprises a second wheelwith there being third means mounting the second wheel to the frame forrotation about a horizontally extending axis.
 6. The apparatus forpreparing soil according to claim 1 wherein the second means comprises asecond wheel with there being means mounting the second wheel to theframe so that the second wheel traces a path in rotation that coincideswith the first means in the line of the travel direction for the frame.7. The apparatus for preparing soil according to claim 6 wherein themeans comprises a first wheel that is rotatable about a horizontal axis.8. The apparatus for preparing soil according to claim 7 wherein saidsecond means includes a third wheel with there being means mounting thethird wheel to the frame so that the third wheel traces a path inrotation that coincides with the first means in the line of the traveldirection for the frame.
 9. The apparatus for preparing soil accordingto claim 8 wherein the second and third wheels comprise toothed wheelsand the means mounting the second and third wheels to the frame mountthe second and third wheels for rotation about axes that are traverse toeach other and the rotational axis of the first wheel.
 10. The apparatusfor preparing soil according to claim 9 wherein the frame comprises amain part and a subpart, there are means mounting the frame subpart tothe main frame part for relative vertical movement, and the means ofmounting the main frame part for mounts the wheels to the frame subpart,whereby the second and third wheels can be vertically repositionedrelative to the first wheel.
 11. The apparatus for preparing soilaccording to claim 9 wherein the second and third wheels rotate inplanes that cooperatively produce a V-shape opening away from saidtravel direction for the frame and the second and third wheels straddleat least a portion of the first wheel.
 12. The apparatus for preparingsoil according to claim 1 in combination with fourth means on the framefor continuously defining an open slot in soil loosened by the secondmeans for receipt of at least one of seed and fertilizer as the frameadvances in a travel direction.
 13. The apparatus for preparing soilaccording to claim 12 wherein the first and second means penetrate soilto a depth approximately equal to the depth of a slot in soil defined bythe fourth means.
 14. The apparatus for preparing soil according toclaim 12 in combination with a fifth means on the frame for continuouslydelivering at least one of seed and fertilizer to soil and a sixth meansfor continuously placing soil in a slot defined by the fifth means asthe frame is advanced in a travel direction.
 15. The apparatus forpreparing soil according to claim 10 wherein there are means cooperatingbetween the first wheel and the main frame part for varying the verticalposition of the first wheel relative to the main frame part.
 16. Anapparatus for preparing soil for the placement therein of at least oneof seed and fertilizer, said apparatus comprising: a frame; first meanson the frame for continuously parting the soil in an intended line ofintroduction of at least one of seed and fertilizer; and second means onthe frame for loosening soil adjacent to the intended line ofintroduction of at least one of seed and fertilizer, whereby a loosenedbed of soil can be defined for receipt of at least one of seed andfertilizer.
 17. The apparatus for preparing soil according to claim 16in combination with fourth means on the frame for continuously definingan open slot in soil loosened by the second means for receipt of atleast one of seed and fertilizer as the frame advances in a traveldirection.
 18. The apparatus for preparing soil according to claim 17wherein the first means comprises a first wheel with there being meansfor mounting the first wheel to the frame for rotation about an axisthat is substantially perpendicular to the travel direction, the secondmeans comprises second and third wheels with there being means formounting the second and third wheels to the frame for rotation aboutaxes that are non-parallel to each other and non-parallel to therotational axis of the first wheel.
 19. The apparatus for preparing soilaccording to claim 17 in combination with a fifth means on the frame forcontinuously delivering at least one of seed and fertilizer to soilloosened by the second means.
 20. The apparatus for preparing soilaccording to claim 19 in combination with a sixth means for continuouslyplacing soil in a slot defined by the first means as the frame isadvanced in a travel direction.
 21. An apparatus for preparing soil forthe placement thereon of at least one of seed and fertilizer, saidapparatus comprising: a frame; first and second cooperating toothedwheels; means for mounting the first and second toothed wheels to theframe so that the first and second toothed wheels rotate in first andsecond vertically extending planes about first and second transverseaxes to loosen soil; means for supporting the frame at a predeterminedheight relative to subjacent soil supporting the frame; and means on theframe for continuously defining an open slot in soil loosened by thefirst and second wheels as the frame is advanced in a travel direction,said frame supporting means maintaining the frame at a height so thatthe slot defining means defines a slot having a first depth, at leastone of the first and second wheels penetrating soil to a depth at leastequal to approximately Lid first depth.
 22. The apparatus for preparingsoil according to claim 21 wherein both said first and second wheelspenetrate soil to at least said first depth.
 23. The apparatus forpreparing soil according to claim 21 wherein the first and second wheelsrotate in first and second planes that cooperatively define a V shapeopening in a trailing direction as the frame is traveling.
 24. Theapparatus for preparing soil according to claim 21 including meanscooperating between the frame and first and second wheels for varyingthe vertical position of the first and second wheels relative to theframe.
 25. A method of preparing soil for the placement therein of atleast one of seed and fertilizer, said method comprising the steps of:continuously cutting the soil in an intended line for the placement ofat least one of seed and fertilizer; continuously loosening the soil onopposite sides of the intended seed line; and continuously defining anopen slot for the placement of at least one of seed and fertilizer inthe loosened soil.